Horse Racing: Top Jockey Ramon Dominguez Falls; Fractures Skull

The agent for the nation’s top jockey Ramon Dominguez says the 2012 leading rider has suffered a fractured skull after taking a fall during the seventh race at Aqueduct Racetrack yesterday (Friday).

Agent Steve Rushing said Dominguez’s wife, Sharon, told him that results of a CT scan revealed the skull fracture. Rushing said he’s been told the next “24 to 48 hours can be critical.”

Dominguez spent the night under observation at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, NY. It is unclear how long he will remain hospitalized, or when he will be able to ride again.

Dominguez was thrown during the running of Friday’s seventh race when his mount, the good looking Convocation, clipped heels with the eventual winner, Sovereign Default. Convocation stumbled and fell while tossing his rider to the inner dirt oval.

Neither horse appeared to be seriously injured in the incident and both walked off the track.

Dominguez quickly was taken from the track by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

Dominguez has been the nation’s leading rider the past two years, and is currently in line for his third Eclipse Award as the nation’s leading rider. Dominguez led all riders on the New York circuit in 2012 with 322 wins and led the nation in earnings with $25.6 million.